SYSTEM FOR CONFIGURING A MEDIA PROCESSOR

• US 20090193489A1
• Filed: 01/29/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP
• Inventors: CANSLER, JAMES L., WHITE, SCOTT
• Granted Patent: US 8,667,551 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/134
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42692 for reading from or writing on a volatile storage medium, e.g. Random Access Memory [RAM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4432 Powering on the client, e.g. bootstrap loading using setup parameters being stored locally or received from the server resetting in general G06F1/14; program loading or initiating in general G06F9/445; bootstrapping in general G06F9/4401; secure boots of computer platforms G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor communicatively coupled to a remote controller by way of a wireless interface. The media processor can have a controller to wirelessly transmit to the remote controller provisioning information stored in the media processor for restoring at least a portion of the provisioning information stored in the media processor. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A remote controller that manages operations of a Set-Top Box (STB), comprising a controller to:

establish wireless communications with the STB;

request provisioning information of the STB;

receive from the STB the requested provisioning information; and

record the requested provisioning information to restore a provisioning state of the STB or to provision a new STB.

2. The remote controller of claim 1, comprising a portable memory for storing the requested provisioning information.

3. The remote controller of claim 2, wherein the portable memory is slidably engaged in a media slot of the remote controller, and wherein the portable memory can be used with other remote controllers, computers, cellular phones, personal digital assistants, and telematic systems of automobiles.

4. The remote controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to transmit the recorded provisioning information to a new STB or the STB that originally supplied the requested provisioning information.

5. The remote controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to:

request media content stored in the STB;

receive from the STB the requested media content; and

record the requested media content.

6. The remote controller of claim 5, wherein the controller is adapted to restore the media content in the STB or transmit the recorded media content to a new STB.

7. The remote controller of claim 5, comprising a display, wherein the controller is adapted to present a portion of the recorded media content on the display without interrupting a presentation of a media program on a media presentation device managed by the STB.

8. The remote controller of claim 5, wherein the media content comprises at least one among audio content, still image content, and moving image content

9. A computer-readable storage medium in a remote controller that manages operations of a media processor by way of a wireless interface, comprising computer instructions for recording at least one among provisioning information and media content stored in the media processor.

10. The storage medium of claim 9, wherein the media processor comprises at least one among a Set-Top Box (STB) and a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), and wherein the media content comprises at least one among audio content, still image content, and moving image content.

11. The storage medium of claim 10, wherein the provisioning information comprises at least one among operational settings and user preference settings of at least one among the STB and the DVR.

12. The storage medium of claim 9, comprising computer instructions for restoring at least a portion of one among the provisioning information and the media content stored in the media processor with at least a portion of the recorded provisioning information and the recorded media content.

13. The storage medium of claim 9, wherein the recorded provisioning information and the recorded media content are singly or in combination stored in a portable memory coupled to the remote controller.

14. The storage medium of claim 13, wherein the portable memory is slidably engaged in a media slot of the remote controller, and wherein the portable memory can be used on other remote controllers, computers, cellular phones, personal digital assistants, and telematic systems of automobiles.

15. The storage medium of claim 9, comprising computer instructions for presenting in a display of the remote controller the recorded media content without interrupting a presentation of a media program on a media presentation device managed by the media processor.

16. The storage medium of claim 9, comprising computer instructions for periodically requesting and recording at least portions of at least one among the provisioning information and the media content stored in the media processor.

17. A media processor managed by a remote controller communicatively coupled by way of a wireless interface, the media processor comprising a controller to wirelessly transmit to the remote controller provisioning information stored in the media processor for restoring at least a portion of the provisioning information stored in the media processor.

18. The media processor of claim 17, wherein the media processor comprises at least one among a Set-Top Box (STB), a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), and a portable media player, wherein the media content comprises at least one among audio content, still image content, and moving image content, and wherein the media processor operates in a media communication system corresponding to at least one among an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) communication system, a cable TV communication system, and a satellite TV communication system.

19. The media processor of claim 18, wherein the provisioning information comprises at least one among operational settings, user preference settings, and play lists of at least one among the STB, the DVR, and the portable media player.

20. The media processor of claim 17, wherein the wireless interface operates according to one among a Bluetooth, Wireless Fidelity, and infrared wireless access technology, and wherein the controller of the media processor is adapted to:

detect a defect in at least a portion of the provisioning information stored in the media processor;

submit a request to the remote controller for a copy of at least a portion of the provisioning information recorded therein;

receive from the remote controller the requested portion of the provisioning information; and

restore the defective portion of the provisioning information with the portion of provisioning information received from the remote controller.

21. The media processor of claim 17, wherein the remote controller has a portable memory that records the provisioning information of the media processor, and wherein the portable memory can engage with the media processor to restore at least a portion of the provisioning information stored in the media processor.

22. A storage medium, comprising a portable memory for coupling to a remote controller that manages operations of a media processor over a wireless interface, wherein the portable memory stores provisioning information retrieved from the media processor by the remote controller for restoring at least a portion of the provisioning information stored in the media processor.

23. The storage medium of claim 22, and wherein at least a portion of the provisioning information recorded in the portable memory is used to restore at least a portion of the provisioning information of the media processor, wherein the media processor comprises at least one among a Set-Top Box (STB), a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), and a portable media player, and wherein the provisioning information comprises at least one among operational settings, user preference settings, and play lists of at least one among the STB, the DVR, and the portable media player.

24. The storage medium of claim 22, wherein the portable memory slidably engages with a media slot of the remote controller and the media processor.

25. The storage medium of claim 22, wherein the portable memory stores media content stored in the media processor while coupled to the remote controller, wherein the remote controller presents at least a portion of the media content in a display of the remote controller, and wherein the media content comprises at least one among still image content and moving image content.